Press Releases

2016

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- As a result of feedback provided from both on-site and on-line participants, the next topic for our Diocesan on-line Orthodox Scripture Study will be the Book of Acts, (The Acts of the Holy Apostles). The study is scheduled to begin on Saturday October 8, 2016 at 5:00 pm.
This weekly on-line scripture study will be led by the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Kenneth Bachofsky, Professor of Sacred Scripture at Christ the Saviour Seminary and broadcast live from St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Warren, Ohio. This study will draw on the patristic voice of the Fathers of the Church and will provide the participants with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of this Scriptural text from the Orthodox Christian perspective. Read more...

BROOKLINE, MA [Orthodox Christian Fellowship] - The following encyclical about College Student Sunday 2016, to be observed in all Orthodox parishes in North America on Sunday October 2, 2016, has been issued by His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Nyssa, the Episcopal Liaison to the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America:

We greet you with joy as we announce the date for College Student Sunday, benefiting Orthodox Christian Fellowship. To support the incredible efforts of our students, College Student Sunday will be the first Sunday of October, running in conjunction with OCF’s Orthodox Awareness Month. This year, the date falls on OCTOBER 2.

Orthodox Christian Fellowship continues to provide students with opportunities to encounter Christ and grow in their Orthodox faith through their growing network of on campus OCF chapters led by talented students, clergy, and lay advisors as well as through programs such as regional retreats, College Conference, Real Break, and the Summer Leadership Institute.
Read more...

PERTH AMBOY, NJ [St John The Baptist Orthodox Church] -- St. John’s Church is pleased to announce the dedication and blessing of the Habitat for Humanity Memorial Building Project as set for Wednesday, December 07, 2016! This is an exciting moment as the project is nearing completion through the labors and contributions of so many Diocesan Faithful. A highlight of the dedication ceremony will be the presence of Pani Susan Rosco, and it is desired that as many Diocesan faithful as possible also be in attendance.

In keeping with the spirit of service, a final work week in association with this dedication will take place from December 05 - 10. I OCC has graciously agreed to co-ordinate this aspect of the trip. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA - With great sorrow, the Diocesan Chancery announces the falling asleep in the Lord of Very Rev. Protopresbyter Paul Herbert, age 83, on Sunday, August 21, 2016. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Pani Eleanor Jean (Blaschak) Herbert; daughters Ruth Ann Herbert of Lansford and Claudia (Ernest) Pido of Mount Vernon, OH; grandchildren EJ, Kaitlin and Jacob of OH; brother John Herbert of Nesquehoning; brother-in-law Very Rev. Fr. Thomas (Magdelyn) Blaschak of Greenville, PA; sister-in-law Carolyn Duranko of Tewksbury, MA; also several nieces and nephews and many friends. He is preceded in death by his parents John and Helen Herbert; brother George and sister Mary.
Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA - Christ the Saviour Seminary is pleased to announce that it will be offering to the public an Introduction to Church Slavonic Class (3 credit hours) for the upcoming Fall Semester at the Seminary. Classes are offered on Fridays from 1:00pm-3:30pm. Fee is $200. The semester runs from September 12 through December 19. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] -- Following in the footsteps of Sts Cyril and Methodios, and demonstrating in concrete action their renewed committment to hands on missionary work, the National Senior ACRY has organized a small weekend mission and service weekend at St. Herman's House of Hospitality in Cleveland, Ohio, taking place from today, Friday Aug 12- Sun Aug 14. The team is comprised of officers and members of the ACRY, Priests and other Diocesan faithful who are committed to assisting as they are able the work of this phenomenal Orthodox Christian Outreach to the disadvantaged of the greater Cleaveland Ohio area. The team will be in place throughout the weekend and will conclude with their participation in Divine Liturgy at our nearby Diocesan Christ the Saviour Parish in North Royalton, Ohio. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- For the past four years, a weekly on-line scripture study has been broadcast live from St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Warren, Ohio. Taught by the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Kenneth Bachofsky, Professor of Scripture at Christ the Saviour Seminary, the participants have studied the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. John and the Book of Revelation. These weekly lectures, which are delivered in a clear and concise manner, drawing on the patristic voice of the Fathers of the Church Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] It is with great pleasure that His Grace, Bishop Gregory and the members of the Diocesan Stewardship Commission announces that the first ACROD stewardship coordinator retreat will be held at Camp Nazareth, from Friday September 16th to Sunday September 18th, 2016. The theme of the retreat is “Parish Application of Stewardship.”

Many of the Diocesan parish stewardship coordinators and parish council members have expressed concern about how to implement a stewardship program into their parishes and this retreat will focus on those concerns. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] --- Today, (Saturday July 9th) the 2016 Orthodox Youth Mission Team (OYMT) left for West Virginia. The team will be participating in a week long mission trip with the Appalachian Service Project (ASP) in the town of Huff Creek, WV in Wyoming County. The goal of ASP is to make homes “warmer, safer and drier.” The team of 34—24 high school youth and 10 adult leaders from 7 parishes of the Carpatho- Russian, Orthodox Church in American and the Greek Orthodox Dioceses in CT, NY and NJ are excited for this opportunity to serve the Lord and put their faith to work helping families in this very impoverished area of the country. Recent floods in the area have made families lives even more difficult. Read more...